Letter to Mr. Daniel Calleja Crespo, Director General DG Environment - Maine Congressional Delegation Urges European Commission to Reject Swedish Proposal to Ban Lobsters

Letter

Dear Mr. Crespo:

As the Congressional representatives of Maine, the state where an overwhelming majority of all American lobster--including that which is destined for European markets--is landed, we are deeply concerned about the negative impacts of Sweden's proposed import ban. With more than $200 million worth of live American lobster exported from North America to the EU annually, a ban would have serious effects on both Maine's economy and thousands of our constituents' livelihoods--not to mention commensurate losses for distribution, retail, and restaurant businesses in EU member nations. We again write to you with our serious concern for the lack of compelling science in Sweden's petition to prohibit the importation of live Homarus americanus (American lobster) to the European Union and the socioeconomic effects it could have in the EU and North America.

While we remain disappointed the issue was not laid to rest at the Scientific Forum's meeting in late-June, we are glad the Forum requested that Sweden update its risk assessment (RA) regarding stated concerns about the science. Sweden's RA should be held to the high scientific scrutiny that is provided for in EU Regulation. As we noted in our June letter to you, the U.S. Department of Commerce and its Canadian counterpart provided ample scientific evidence with respect to the very low risk that American lobster poses as an invasive alien species.

As the Scientific Committee weighs Sweden's petition, we request that the RA continue to be measured against the best available peer-reviewed science and that alternative targeted mitigation solutions be considered to address this perceived risk. We also urge you to consider the economic repercussions that the proposed ban would have. We believe ecological risks have been well-studied and are minimal and that it is in the best interest of all parties involved to continue this sector of trans‑Atlantic trade.

Thank you for your consideration of our great interest in the outcome of the issue.